Individual protective blanket for emergencies

ABSTRACT

An individual protective body blanket for use during emergencies for protection against flying shrapnel, debris, and projectiles. The blanket may comprise an energy absorbing layer and a ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between inner and out layers of ripstock nylon. The blanket may comprise a generally rectangular or elongate panel with inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface is provided with shoulder straps and a belt for donning the blanket in a backpack-like fashion. The outer surface may be made of a visually conspicuous color, such as orange or yellow, to assist first responders in locating the individual.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/000,693 entitled “Individual Protective Blanket for Emergencies,” filed May 20, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective body products and, more particularly but without limitation, to protective blankets for use during emergencies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with this description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the individual protective blanket of the present invention worn by a young boy in a standing position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the individual protective blanket of the present invention worn by a young boy in a protective safety position.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the protective blanket

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the protective blanket

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front or inside of protective blanket.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the inside of the protective blanket marked for dimensions.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the section identified as 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention is directed to a layered, wearable article in the form of a cover panel or small blanket for individual use for protection during emergencies that present danger from flying debris or projectiles. For example, during tornadoes and other major weather events, the inventive blanket provides protection from wind born projectiles. During mass shootings or other attacks from armed criminals or terrorists, the blanket provides a bullet-resistant body panel. The protective blanket comprises a flexible armored panel with a harness so that it can be worn like a backpack; in this way, children will readily understand how to wear the blanket. Moreover, the harness leaves the wearer's hands free to hold or carry objects or assist others in donning their blankets.

The armored panel preferably has a layered structure comprising a combination of energy absorbing material, ballistic resistant material, and ripstop material. The types and relative amounts or thicknesses of these various layers, may be varied depending on the intended use of the blanket. The outer or exposed layer of the panel may be made of a visually conspicuous color to aid first responders in locating the user, who may be buried under rubble and debris. Thus, the protective body blanket of the present invention allows wearers, and especially young children, to survive emergency situations with fewer and/or less severe injuries than might result without such protection.

Turning now to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown therein a school age boy wearing a personal protection blanket made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and designated generally by the reference number 10. Referring also to FIGS. 2-6, the blanket 10 comprises a flexible armored panel 12 with a harness 14. As seen in FIG. 1, the harness 14 is configured to be worn like a backpack so that the panel 12 is secured lengthwise on the person's back.

The configuration of the harness 14 may vary widely. However, in the preferred embodiment shown herein, the harness 14 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 16 a and 16 b. This shoulder strap arrangement is familiar to most school age children as it is similar to the straps on a backpack. The harness 14 also may include a waist strap or belt 18, as this will prevent the lower portion of the panel 12 from blowing out of place in the presence of strong winds.

The shoulder straps 16 a and 16 b and the waist strap 18 may be made of any strong, durable, flexible material, such as 1 to 2-inch webbing. The waist strap 18 preferably includes a clasp or buckle 20. The shoulder straps 16 a and 16 b and waist strap 18 may or may not be adjustable. The shoulder straps 16 a and 16 b should be positioned low enough on the inside surface of the panel 12 so that a portion of the panel will extend above the shoulders and behind the head.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 2-6, the armored panel 12 is preferably rectangular as this simplifies manufacture. However, the shape of the panel may vary. For example, the panel 12 could be oval. In most instances, the length of the panel 12 will be greater than the width. As shown in FIG. 1, ideally, the length of the panel 12 is less than the person's height and the width is slightly greater than the person's body width. Additionally, the length of the panel 12 is selected to extend from above the person's shoulders to about the person's knees when the panel is secured to the person's back. As shown in FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment, the overall length “L” of the panel 12 is about 36 inches, and the width “W” may be about 20 inches. This size, in combination with the flexibility of the panel 12, provides good coverage of the user's body when the user assumes the emergency preparedness position, as shown in FIG. 2.

The overall size of the panel 12 also will vary depending on the average size of the intended user. It will be appreciated that one size of blanket will be usable by individuals of a range of sizes. Thus, only a few sizes (for example, small, medium and large) will serve small children to adults of average sizes.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the blanket 10 may include one or more handles. In the preferred embodiment, the blanket 10 includes one or more loops or handles, such as the handles 24 a and 24 b positioned near the top end 26 of the panel 12. These handles 24 a and 24 b can be used to pull the top of the panel 12 down over one's head while in the emergency position. The handles 24 a and 24 b also provide a convenient way to hang the blanket when not in use. As an additional aid in finding victims of a tornado or violent explosions or structural collapses, the blanket 10 may also be provided with a RFID tag 28, indicated in broken lines in FIG. 5.

As indicated, the panel 12 is a laminated structure. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 7, the panel comprises an inner layer 30 and an outer layer 32. Both these layers may be ripstop material, such as ripstop Nylon brand fabric.

Especially for blankets that are intended for residential use against tornadoes and severe storms, the outer layer is made of a bright, visually conspicuous color, such as orange (safety orange or OSHA orange) or yellow; this makes it easier for rescue personnel to locate individuals wearing the blanket. In some applications, color coding for distinguishing sizes or intended uses may be employed. In some cases, it may be desirable to make the blanket harder to see using dark colors or camouflage print.

Sandwiched between the inner and outer layers 30 and 32 is a layer 34 of energy absorbing material and a layer 36 of ballistic resistant material. Usually, the ballistic resistant material layer 36 is immediately beneath the outer layer, that is, between the outer layer 32 and the energy absorbing layer 34.

The energy absorbing layer 34 may be an energy absorbing gel. For example, the gel layer 34 may be formed of Impact Gel brand vegetable based gel marketed by Impact Gel Corporation of Ettrick, Wisc. See also U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,719 issued May 9, 2006, entitled “Shock Absorbing Compound,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Another suitable collapsible energy absorbing material is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No 2012-0291618 published Nov. 22, 2012, and entitled “Teardrop Lattice Structure for High Specific Strength Materials,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This material enhances the multi-hit capability of armor and reduces the Behind Armor Blunt Trauma (BABT).

The thickness of the energy absorbing layer 34 may vary depending the intended use of the blanket 10. For example, for a blanket 10 intended mainly for use against wind-blown debris, that is, for storm protection, the gel layer may be between about 2 and about 5 millimeters thick, and more preferably will be about 3.5 mm thick. On the other hand, for a blanket 10 intended primarily for protection against firearm projectiles, a thinner layer of gel may be used. For example, a gel layer about 1.5 mm thick may suffice.

Referring still to FIG. 7, the ballistic resistant layer 36 usually will be made of a plurality of layers of aramid fiber material. For a storm blanket, one particularly suitable fabric is Kevlar brand ballistic fiber made by DuPont (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington Del.). For example, the ballistic resistant layer 36 may be formed of multiple layers of Kevlar, and most preferably about six (6) layers of Kevlar fabric.

Another particularly advantageous material for the ballistic resistant layer 36 is fabric woven of Dyneema brand ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) fiber (also referred to as high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) and high-performance polyethylene (HPPE). This fiber is marketed by DSM Dyneema LLC of Stanley, North Carolina. Dyneema brand fiber provides fabrics that offer maximum strength with minimum weight. For example, for anti-ballistic applications, the ballistic resistant layer 36 of the panel 12 may be formed of multiple layers of Dyneema brand fabric; typically the layer 36 may comprise 40-80 layers of Dyneema brand fabric, and most preferably about 60 layers.

Regardless of the material used, where the purpose of the blanket 10 is anti-ballistic, it is preferred to structure the panel 12 so that its ballistic resistance is sufficient to stop rounds discharged at a close range from most hand guns and shot guns. More particularly, it is desirable to select the material and the number of layers or thickness of the ballistic resistant layer 36 used in the panel 12 so that the resulting panel 12 is compliant with NIJ (National

Institute of Justice) Standard 0101.06 for Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor for Level MA type armor.

As used herein, the term “blanket” is broadly defined as a cover or panel that sized to protect a single individual in the manner shown. It is designed to protect the body against projectiles and impacts as opposed to providing warmth or protection against exposure to the elements. It is long enough to cover the head and important body organs at least when the user assumes the emergency position (FIG. 2). Additionally, it is lightweight and small enough that when worn in a backpack-like fashion, especially by a child, the wearer still can easily move about, stand, crouch, and even run or roll, if necessary.

Having described a preferred embodiment for the inventive individual protective blanket 10, a method for using it will be explained. First, the primary purpose of the blanket 10 is identified, that is, whether it is to be used mainly for protection from storms and weather events or mainly for anti-ballistic purposes, such as school shootings, and the specific structure of the laminated panel 12 is selected accordingly. Next, the blanket 10 is donned by inserting one's arms through the shoulder straps 16 a and 16 b and securing the waist strap 18 around one's waist using the buckle 20. If the straps are adjustable, they should be tightened snugly to the body.

Wearing the protective blanket 10 like a back pack, the user can easily walk, run, bend, stoop, or crouch as necessary to reach a safe zone. Notably, the user's hands are free; several children can hold hands with each other as they are led by a teacher to the safe location. Once the safe location is reached, one assumes an emergency preparedness position, which is basically a fetal position face down on the floor, with the hands brought up over the back of the head. In this position, the harness alone holds the blanket 10 in position, covering most of the user's body. However, the handles 24 a and 24 b are available immediately behind the head for added security.

Now it will be appreciated that the individual protective blanket of the present invention provides bodily protection for children and adults alike from both wind-blown debris, flying shrapnel from explosions, falling structures in a building collapse, as well as punctures from ballistic forces such as rounds from handguns. The blanket is lightweight and simple to wear. It does not require the use of the wearer's hands to keep it in position and its over-the-back position does not interfere with movement.

The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary. Many details are often found in the art and, therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described herein. It is not claimed that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been described in the drawings and accompanying text, the description is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad meaning of the terms of the attached claims. The description and drawings of the specific embodiments herein do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but rather provide an example of how to use and make the invention. Likewise, the abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. Rather, the limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims and the claims of any non-provisional application based hereon. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An individual protective blanket for use by a person in an emergency, wherein the person has a width and a height, the blanket comprising: a flexible armored panel formed of a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including an energy absorbing layer, a ballistic resistant layer, an outer layer, and an inner layer, the energy absorbing layer and the ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, wherein the panel is sized to have a width wider than the person's width and further sized to have a length that is less than the person's height; and a harness configured to be worn by the person to secure the panel lengthwise on the person's back.
 2. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder straps.
 3. The individual protective blanket of claim 2 wherein the harness further comprises a waist strap.
 4. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the harness further comprises a waist strap.
 5. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the length of the panel is selected to extend from above the person's shoulders to about the person's knees when the panel is secured to the person's back.
 6. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the panel has a top end and wherein the protective blanket further comprising a handle at the top end of the panel.
 7. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer layers are both ripstop fabric.
 8. The individual protective blanket of claim 7 wherein the energy absorbing layer comprises an energy absorbing gel.
 9. The individual protective blanket of claim 8 wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer.
 10. The individual protective blanket of claim 9 wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises aramid fiber material.
 11. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing layer comprises an energy absorbing gel.
 12. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer.
 13. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises aramid fiber material.
 14. The individual protective blanket of claim 13 wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer.
 15. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is orange or yellow.
 16. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 further comprising an RFID tag.
 17. The individual protective blanket of claim 1 wherein the panel is compliant with NIJ Standard 0101.06 for Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor for Level MA type armor.
 18. A method for protecting oneself in an emergency comprising: donning an individual protective blanket, the protective blanket comprising: a flexible armored panel formed of a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including an energy absorbing layer, a ballistic resistant layer, an outer layer, and an inner layer, the energy absorbing layer and the ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, wherein the panel is sized to have a width wider than one's width and further sized to have a length that is less than one's height; and a harness configured to secure the panel lengthwise on one's back; wherein the step of donning the blanket includes positioning the panel over one's back lengthwise; and assuming an emergency preparedness position.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a pair of shoulder straps and the step of donning the blanket includes slipping each of one's arms through one of the shoulder straps.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a waist strap and the step of donning the blanket includes securing the waist strap around one's waist.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a waist strap and the step of donning the blanket includes securing the waist strap around one's waist. 